Hand-stamp.



R. R. SANDHAM HAND STAMP.

woman Hm) Ann. 1915.

1234567890 19 BYLW WITNESSES mmvron I z \EQ A TTORNEY UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

'BALPH B. SANDHAM, OF HARLAN, IOWA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0 JOHN SANDHAM,

OF HARLAN, IOWA.

HAND-STAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 27, 1915.

Application filed April 22, 1915. Serial No. 23,168.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RALPH R. SAND'HAM, a citizen of the United States, residing in Harlan, in the county ofShelby and State of Iowa, have invented certain new and use- ,ful Improvements in Hand-Stamps, of

which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to hand operated printing devices and my present improvements are particularly well adapted for ,with the upper part of the casing broken away and the several parts in vertical section, the plane of which is transverse to the axis of the type-wheels. Fig. 2, is a similar View to that in Fig. 1, but with the plane of i the vertical section at right-angles to the said view. Fig. 3, is a similar view to that shown in Fig. 1, but with the sliding frame, which carries the inker and detent for the type-wheels, shown as moved out of normal. position against the action of the spring, to disengage the detent and to. bring the inker in contact with said wheels. Fig. 4, is a top plan view of the devic.-., with the handle omitted and with the parts in position shown in Fig. 3, and under which condition the ink may be applied to the inkrollers. Fig. 5, is a side view, partly broken away and partly in vertical section, of a modified form of the invention. Fig. 6, shows the characters desirable on the dollarwheels, when my invention is employed as a check protector with the exception of the "first dollar wheel, which should have a decimal point after it as indicated in Fig. 7 Fig. 8, 'shows the cents numerals made smaller than the others andwith an underscore.

Re erring to the drawings, in which like numbers of reference designate like parts throughout, 1 indicates a casing or housing, to the top of which is secured by means of a screw 2, a handle 3. The bottom of the casing is provided with a suitable opening 4, through which a portion of the peripheries of the type-whmzis 5, project, the lower part of the casing at each end being rounded and contracted as at 6, to make the same conform'to the shape of the type-wheels. Openings 7, are formed in the opposite sides of the casing, in alinement with each other and a shaft 8, is mounted in said openings with a snug fit. The typewheels 5 are mounted side by side in contact with each other on the shaft 8, and may be set by hand independently of each other. Near each end of the shaft is a peripheral groove 9, at a point near the sides of the casing, and a spring ring 10 is placed in each of said grooves and these rings serve to space the wheels from the sides of the casing and also to hold the shaft against easy endwise movement, at the same time they permit the shaft to be forced endwise from its mounting. This is accomplished by pushing upon one end of the shaft until the rings are sprung out of their grooves, whereupon the shaft may be pushed through the several wheels in succession, and in this way the wise-ls may be removed.

The type-wheels are each counter sunk upon opposite sides, as shown at 11-, and this leaves narrow flanges or ribs 12, which lie in close lateral contact when the wheels are mounted in place and this contact serves to exclude dust and foreign matter from between the wheels, thereby keeping the wheel bearings on the shaft free from dirt. This construct-ion also serves to reduce the friction between the wheels, since only their danges are in contact with each other.

Within the upper part of the casing is suitably mounted the sliding frame 13, which carries at one end a detent 14, for holding the type-bearing members normally locked, and at the other end the inkingrollers 15, which are brought in, contact with the type-bearing members by the sliding movement of the frame. I have here shown this frame as being made from sheetmetal'; with a flat straight main portion l1av-' ing a slot 16, formed therein for receiving the shank of the screw 2, and thus guiding the frame in its sliding movements. At one end the metal of the frame is bent downwardly and fashioned into 1i def/ fit 14, the lower end of which is bent outwardly and is rounded so as to take into the spaces between the type 17, on the peripheries of the type-wheels 5. A spring 18, interposed between the side of the casing and one end of the frame, and to either of which parts it may be suitably attached, serves to press the frame normally in an outward direction and to keep the detent in locked engagement with the typewheels, and the. inking-rollers from contact therewith. The other end of the frame 13, is bent downwardly at 19, and is provided with two inwardly projecting ears or lugs 20, integral therewith and in which a shaft 21 is mounted for receiving the ink-rollers 15, which are placed side by side on the shaft, there being one ink-roller for each type-bearing member. An outwardly projecting push button or part 23, bears against the part 19, of the frame and passes out of the casing through an orifice 21, therein. The push button makes a sliding fit with the orifice and this also serves to guide the frame in its sliding movements and to give the frame a firm mounting in the casing, and the push button is located directly opposite to the spring 18, which it serves to compress when the push button is forced inwardly by pressure of the finger.

The part 19 of the frame is provided at its lower end with an inwardly projecting lip or shelf 25, the free edge of which lies near the peripheries of the ink-rollers, and when the ink is supplied to the rollers, the surplus finds its way down the wall or face of part 19, onto the lip 25, whi h directs it onto the ink-rollers and thereby ids in distributing the ink.

The ink-rollers 15, are arranged above the type-wheels, with the axis about which they turn well to one side of the vertical plane containing the axis of the type-wheels, and ink is supplied to the rims of the ink-rollers, through an opening 26, formed in the main part of the frame 13, and extending transversely thereof and lying to one side of the vertical plane containing the axis of rotation of the ink-rollers. A corresponding opening 27, is formed in the top of the casing 1, and this opening is normally covered by the frame below. \Vhen ink is to be applied to the ink-rollers, the push button 23 is pressed inwardly so that the frame openinq 26, is brought into registration with the opening 27, in the casing, thereby giving access to the ink-rollers from above for introducing the ink thereto, as will be understood more particularly from Fig. 3. It will be noted that the point at which the ink is applied to the rollers, is somewhat to the side of the rollers which are gradually turned by the type-Wheels when they are rotated by a pencil or suitable instrument in the usual way. This causes the ink to be carried around on the peripheries of the wheels and at the same time the lip 25, distributes upon the rollers whatever ink finds its way to the lip.

In Fig. 5, I show a hand stamp having type bands 28, instead of wheels, and these bands are each provided with finger wheels 29, for setting the respective bands, in a manner well known in this class of devices. In this view the ink-rollers are omitted from the same in order to simplify the drawing. but it will be understood that the inker may be used in this form of device in the manner hereinabove described in connection with the other figures. The detent 14, in this form engages the finger-wheels 25), so as to normally hold them locked assuring permanent alinement of the type, the detent being released by operating the push-initton 23, as previously described. In order to insure positioni g the bottom and the top of the printing space, and also to approximately aline the type, I provide the lower edge of the sides of the casing with extensions 30, which correspond to the size and shape of .the side of the characters on the typewheels', as indicated in Figs. .1 and 3. The wheels are turned until the, type desired register with the projections and perfect alinement may be obtained by the pressure of the detent. In the use of type-wheels, where a blank space is left on the periphery of a wheel, provision is made for projections or shoulders for the detent to cooperate with as it does witlnthe interstices between adjacent type teeth .or projections.

In Fig. 6, I have illustrated the characters which it is desirable to have on the dollars wheels, with the exception of the first, which should have a decimal point after each character, as indicated in Fig. 7. An alternative would be to place the periods separating dollars and cents numerals, second cents wheel. The cents numerals may also be made smaller in size and have a line under them as shown in Fig. 8.

My improvements are especially adapted for check protectors, characters may be grooved or otherwise formed so as to print them in acid proof ink and indent and break the surface of the paper, forcing the ink into the maeerated edges. In uslng the device as a check-protector the impression may be made in the space on the check reserved for the numerals, or in any other such location where any attempt at alteration could not fail to be noticed.

I wish it to be-understood as not limiting my invention to a particular kind of hand stamp or printing device as it is evident that my improvements are applicable to differ ent forms of such devices. Neither do I wish to be understood aslimiting my inupon the and when so used the vention to the particular form of the structures herewithshown, for it is manifest that various modifications may be made in the different parts thereof, without however departing from the spirit of my invention.

By virtue of my improvements I am enabled to make a very compact form of handstamp and to reduce the cost of manufacture.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is i 1. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of movable typebearing members, a reciprocating frame having inking mechanism mounted thereon and normally out of contact with said members, and a detent connected with and operated by said frame and normally engaging said members to retain them in locked position, whereby when the frame is moved out of normal position the detent is disengaged from said members and the inker engaged therewith.

2. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of movable typebearing members, a sliding spring-actuated frame, and a detent-controlled by the movement of said frame and normally holding said members locked.

3. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a casing for housing the type-wheels and adjuncts and vhaving the sides formed integral with each other, two of the opposite sides of said casing beam provided each with an opening arranged in axial alinement with each other, the type-wheel shaft mounted in said openings by endwise insertion therein, typewheels mounted to turn independently on said shaft, a circumferential groove formed around said shaft near each end thereof, and a spring-ring mounted in each groove and serving to space the end wheels from the sides of the casing and also to hold the shaft against accidental endwise movement, substantially as described.

4. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a casing, movable type-bearing members, a sliding springactuated frame having inking-mechanism mounted thereon and provided with an opening for access to said inker to supply it with ink, the said casing being provided with an opening adapted to register with said frame-opening when the frame is slid against the action of its spring and the frame normally closing said casing-opening.

In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a casing, movable type-bearing members, a sliding frame controlling devices for engaging said members and provided with a push button or part. the casing being provided with a guide-opening for said push part, and a sliding connectionbetween said frame and casin 6. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a casing, movable type-bearing members, a sliding spring-actuated frame adapted to carry devices engaging said members, a guide pinand-slot connection between said casing and frame.

7. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a casing, a

knob and a pin for attaching said knob to the casing, a sliding spring-actuated frame provided with a guide slot, the said knobattaching pin projecting into said slot for guiding the frame, and a push part for actuating said frame.

8. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of movable typebearing members, a movable frame having inking-mechanism mounted therein and the said frame having a wall at one side of said inking-mechanism and a lip extending from said 'wall inwardly toward said inkingmechanism and acting to receive the ink applied to said mechanism and to aid in distributing said ink.

9. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of movable typebearing members, a frame having ink-rollers mounted thereon, an opening in said frame through which inkis applied to the rollers and said opening being located to one side of the vertical plane containing the axis of said rollers, a vertical wall on the side of said rollers toward which the inkopening is located, and a lip extending inwardly from said wall toward said rollers for receiving the ink and aiding in distributing it to the rollers.

10. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of movable typebearing members, a sliding spring-actuated frame formed from sheet-metal and provided near one end with inking-mechanism normally out of contact with said members, the other end of said frame being fashioned into a, detent for normally holding said members locked.

11. In a printing device of the character described,- the combination of movable typebearing members, a sliding spring-actuated frame formed from sheet-metal with one end formed with parallel ears, and inking mechanism mounted between said ears and normally out of contact with said members.

1 12. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a casing, a sliding frame mounted in said casing and having one end provided with a depending detent, movable type-bearing members normally held in locked position by said detent, a spring interposed between said casing and the depending detent, the other end of said frame being provided with inking-mechanism normally held out of contact with said members by ,said spring.

7 13. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a casing, movable type-bearing members, a spring-actw atedframe having at one end a depending part provided with inwardly projecting ears, an outwardly projecting push button or part for moving said frame, and inkingmechanism mounted between said ears.

14. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a casing, typebearing wheels-mounted in said casing, a sliding springactuated frame mounted above said wheels and provided at one end with a detent adapted to engagesaid wheels, inking-mechanism mounted at the other end of said frame above said wheels, and a push device for sliding the frame against the action of its spring.

15. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a shaft, hubless type-wheels mounted on said shaft and provided with means for holding them locked in printin position, the said wheels being provided with laterally projecting annular flanges at their rims, and the said flanges of adjacent wheels bearing against each other and constituting the only points of contact between adjacent wheels to rewheels mounted in said casing with a portion of their peripheries projecting through said opening in the casing, means for locking said wheels, the lower edge of said casing at each side of said opening therein being provided with an extension substantially conforming to the side ontour of the type on a wheel and serving 0 indicate the bottom and top of the printing space and to aline the type in setting the wheels.

17. In a printing device of the character described, the combination of a series of type-bearing devices adapted to be independently set, a finger-wheel for setting each of said devices, and a slidable frame provided with a detent normally engaging said finger-wheels.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of the two subscribing witnesses.

RALPH R. SANDHAM.

Witnesses:

L. M. KERR,

C. SMITH.

It is hereby certified that in Lottors Pal-nut No. 1, 1414,4653, granted July 27, 1915, upon the apnlication of Ralph R. Sundhnin, of Harlan, Iowa, for :in iinprnvvnwnr in -Hand-Stnmps, an error appears in the printed specification requiring correction as follows: Page 3, line 36, claim Ii, for the word ho-am read being; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with this corwction therein thin the sumo may conform to the record of the case in the Patent Oilicc.

Signed and sealed this 24th day of August, A. 1)., 1915.

[SEAL] J. T. NEWTON,

Acting Commissioner of Patents. 

